Max Kühner and Eic Up Too Jacco Blue have charged to victory in the elite realm of equestrian sport, the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Ramatuelle, St. Tropez. Adding to the event's allure, Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen was in attendance, enhancing the already star-studded atmosphere.
Simon Delestre managed to do one better than last year stepping up to second place just over a second slower than Kühner. Aboard Cayman Jolly Jumper, Delestre was head to head with current LGCT Championship leader Eduardo Alvarez Aznar who secured third place on 19 year old Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot to extend his lead to 18 points.
A beaming Max Kühner spoke with GCTV after a whirlwind day of show jumping and sporting action. He said, “What a day, it's great to stand back on top of a Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix podium again, particularly here in Ramatuelle, St. Tropez with Max Verstappen watching us.”
He went on to add, “My horses have been so consistent this season so it makes this season’s championship exciting to be part of.”
Championship leader Eduardo Alverez Aznar was at a loss for words for his crowd favourite mount Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot, who has now jumped an unmatched fifth clear round in a Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix for 2024. Talking to GCTV, Edu said, “What can I say, I am running out of words for this horse, he is just unbelievable what he is doing at 19 years old in probably his last season at the top level, and he comes back as strong as ever.”
Without a shadow of disappointment, a jovial Simon Delestre spoke to GCTV of his second place finish today, “I have been three times second, one time third… Maybe I can win this LGCT Grand Prix one day.”
After the sixth stage of the 2024 Longines Global Champions Tour Championship and with dramatic results in today’s competition the rankings are still unprecedentedly tight, leaving the stage in Cannes next week one to watch. Current Championship standings are:
EDUARDO ALVAREZ AZNAR - 162 points
MAX KÜHNER - 144 points
CHRISTIAN KUKUK - 116 points
MAIKEL VAN DER VLEUTEN - 111 points
ANDREAS SCHOU - 108 points
From its prestigious location to its high-stakes competition and lavish celebrations, this event embodies luxury and athletic prowess. Celebrating the seamless fusion of sport and sophistication, the LGCT Grand Prix of St. Tropez, Ramatuelle, is an unparalleled experience that showcases the finest in show jumping alongside an array of exclusive lifestyle elements.
Epitomizing luxury, intense competition, and unmatched hospitality, a huge championship moment for Max Kühner as he secured 40 championship points, putting his name on the grid as the season heads towards the halfway point.
In what looked to be a class destined to be without the need for a jump off, 18th to go Kühner proved the challenging track jumpable and threw down the challenge for the 22 riders that followed. Last year’s LGCT Grand Prix of Ramatuelle, St. Tropez winner Julien Epaillard delivered a clear round in front of his home crowd. Epaillard put the pressure on, laying down the fastest run of round one and ensuring a jump off in St. Tropez.
With an extremely tight time allowed, Katrin Eckermann and Kim Emmen picked up an agonizing time fault keeping them out of the jump-off but still with a top 5 finish in today’s LGCT Grand Prix. Championship contenders Julien Aquetin, Christian Kukuk, Andreas Schou all failed to qualify for the jump off.
Current LGCT Championship Leader Eduardo Alvarez Aznar came home clean in the first round riding Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot. The Spaniard secured his fifth spot in the jump off this year, ensuring he had the chance to defend his LGCT Championship standing.
Simon Delestre of France jumped clear on his home turf riding Cayman Jolly Jumper. His clear round was met with cheers from the crowd as another French rider picked up the final spot in the jump off aiming to be on top of the podium this year.
The jump off was a race to the finish, with the top two riders in the LGCT Championship standings going head to head looking to secure maximum points in St. Tropez.
Max Kühner took no prisoners and laid down a lightning-fast round aboard Eic Up Too Jacco Blue as first to go. The Austrian rider kept pushing till the end but was sure to be careful of the final jump to ensure he came home clean. His stellar round put him into first place in a time of 36.39 seconds with three riders left to go.
2023 LGCT Grand Prix of Ramatuelle, St. Tropez winner Julien Epaillard was looking for a back to back win here in St. Tropez. He made quick work of the course but the French rider acquired eight faults on course, meaning a fourth place finish for Epaillard.
LGCT Championship Leader Eduardo Alvarez Aznar rode clear in the jump off with Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot, who has jumped clear in five consecutive LGCT Grand Prix clear. The Spanish rider was quick but could not quite match the swift pace set by Kühner. Aznar was able to secure a podium finish, ultimately claiming third aboard his longtime mount Rokfeller.
Last to go Simon Delestre was on the hunt for a win on his home turf here in St. Tropez. The French rider soared over the course but could not quite catch Max Kühner, taking second place in 37.74 seconds in the LGCT Grand Prix of Ramatuelle, St. Tropez.
Despite his third place finish, Aznar maintains his lead in the LGCT Championship standings. Kühner’s win in the LGCT Grand Prix of Ramatuelle, St. Tropez sees him close the gap to Aznar, now sitting just 18 points off the lead.
So it would be Max Kühner who was P1 in Saint-Tropez and earned his place in the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix in Riyadh this November. The thrilling Championship race now moves along the glittering French Riviera coastline to Cannes, for the seventh leg of the 2024 season!
